racing is really about money and who can build right to the envelope of the ever changing rules.

 

I appreciate all the very helpful responses. While I have been a Porsche fan for a long time, and have owned four ('59 356 Convertable D, '69 912, '80 911SC, and currently in a 2006 CS), I have always been a spectator when it comes to racing and therefore don't have much of an insider's perspective. Thanks!

 

Makes sense. If anyone knows about pushing the envelope, it is Porsche IMHO.

 

Sorry, and thanks for the clarification. I've lost track of it as it has moved around over the past several years. I know that Ford was running some new Boss 302R's there, as well, so I assumed it was all the same class.

 

Grand Am will do anything in their power to prevent another Porsche 917/962 type era from ever occuring. They are all about anything but Porsche.

 

In Grand Am GT class, there are really two subclasses; level I and II. Level I, which includes RX-8, BMW, Camaro (last years Pontiac GXP), are all tube frame. Level II, which includes the 911 and the Corvette are all production based. I think there is only one 911 left in the series in GT-Level II and that's the Magnus one which got pushed into the wall at mid Ohio.

It is a shame that there is somehow enough money distributed to participants that various big names are still racing in Grand AM and unfortunately, the number of participants have increased. So, if you want to road race at a relatively low budget in which you have the chance to make $500K+ profit, Grand AM offers the formula, you just have to fit into their formula.

It used to be that advanced club racers could race in Grand Am and could cover 40-50% of their costs through earning of races if you were in the top 20-18, but now that became impossible with increased interest from larger budget parties. It used to be the next step to club racing and it was fun IMHO.

 

You need to investigate this more , if you do you will see this is not even close to the truth , the culprit here is not Grand-am, But the "one" who really refuses to comply and get with it ....

 

Agreed. As much as we all here drink the Porsche koolaid, check the facts. With the changes to the rules the GT Porsche is there on lap times and has been a winner.

The GT class should be all Pro or at least amateur clubrace racers that can be close enough to the Pros. The Conti challenge is where most of the Amateurs get to the play, and that is the case nowadays. I think GrandAm is doing good job at actively manta inning a level playfield. With the recent weight add ons to BMWs and Mustangs it allowed the Caymans to be close enough to the front. Lap time wise they are all there. However, IMO, it's always better to have more HP thN handling for a long race.

 

I have always felt another 150 bhp and the DP's would be something .....

 

I think the bad thing about the Rolex GT is having to let the DP cars go by. Who cares about the DP cars?

 

Porsche gets **** on in ALMS too. The RSR is the only factory made car AFAIK... Certainly nothing like the P&M Vettes...

 

If they brought back real prototypes from the 90's Rolex... The DPs are just too ugly to ever be taken seriously.

Look at what was, and could have been...

http://www.zoompics.com/2001o.htm

 

A.Wayne, so are you saying Porsche should build a tube frame GT car? Or abandon the flat 6? or both!

 

LOL... ugly .. yeah ! ...... but purposeful ....

Grand-am has created great racing and a relatively inexpensive series. There formula works and is open to non- Billionaires. The cars look the way they do to restrict the aero , makes for close racing and drafting to pass.

Give the DP's that xtra 150 BHP and i think the public would respond even more favorably.

I really don't understand the resistance , funny how many here can't seem to enjoy both . ALMS have great looking cars , Grandam have great racing! There are not mutually exclusive ... Enjoy !



Porsche should build a car to be competitive in any and all series it competes in
be it tube , carbon , v8 or flat 6 TT or NA !

They have history here , i saw the tears in Alboretto's eyes when they dropped that boat anchor V10 in the back of his F1 car.( Silverstone ) It is not by accident we all talk about the glory days , 917 , 962 . It ' time for them to step up , they partial did so when they entered the ALMS , but it still was not a "porsche 917 " type effort was it ?


Audi benifitted from Piech , look at there racing success under him , Piech was responsible for the Porsche 917 era ,, this is not coincidence. Maybe Porsche will never get back to it's glory days of the Past , unless someone like Piech takes control again ...

 

Porsche does not screw up too many things but they dropped that ball like it was on fire when he went to them first and Porsche let him slip though their fingers and right into Mazda's pocket.